The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (not the song) | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

[@susanmacdonald4288]

It's insulting to imply that the hatch covers weren't properly clamped. No crew that experienced, and with a captain that experienced, would go into bad weather without everything being properly done. The company might have wanted someone to blame, and it's easy to blame dead men who couldn't defend themselves. And with missing vents letting water in, taconite pellets are porous and absorb water, so the pumps wouldn't be able to pump it all out. Some estimates have the bow at the bottom in as little as fifteen seconds, but certainly less than a minute. You mentioned the captain and first-mate retiring, but there was also one man who was covering at the last minute for someone who was ill. Another man was basically hitching ride back with the crew to get home for the season. And one young man was also making his last voyage...he had been sailing to save money for college. As for the song, I can understand and even respect of you don't like it, Chuck, but don't pooh pooh it too much. If it wasn't for that song, the wreck might be largely forgotten. And as he donated all profits to the crew's families, he probably did more for them than the shipping company did. He also became part of a lot of the families. All in all, guys, this has been a pretty interesting podcast...thanks!

[@rdgodette42]

Some corrections to this presentation. Zug Island is in the Detroit River on the opposite side of the state of Michigan from Lake Michigan. The Edmund Fitzgerald was built to a length of 729 feet long with a beam of 75 feet because that was the maximum size that could fit in the Soo Locks at that time. The Fitz was the first modular ship on the Great Lakes, where it was built in sections which were welded together. Welding is the accepted practice in shipbuilding today and rivets have not been used for decades in shipbuilding because they are an inferior and more expensive method for building ships. Great Lakes ships are built to flex quite a bit because the Great Lakes have shorter distance between waves than those on the oceans and many sailors experienced sailing in both environments swear that the Great Lakes waves will beat you up on ways the large waves on the ocean won’t. Also, ships are routinely launched once they are in a state where they can float which frees up the dry dock to start the next ship. The ship is then finished while it is floating elsewhere in the shipbuilder’s complex. To assume that the hatch covers were not fully clamped doesn’t make sense because these were experienced sailors and knew how quickly the weather could change, especially on Lake Superior in November. techhistorian.com/are-rivets-still-used-for-ships/

[@phillipgarrow2297]

Don't fool yourself the storms on the great lakes are more dangerous than the the ocean

[@susanmacdonald4288]

Exactly. The oceans have huge rolling waves, but the Great Lakes have shorter, choppy waves that batter ships.

[@williamring1947]

Yes

[@allenhardwick7527]

Gordon Lightfoot is my opinion he is the Canadian version of Bob Dylan he is a great singer and song writer and storyteller

[@klassikkat]

Zug Island is not in Lake Michigan. It is in the state of Michigan on the Detroit River which runs from Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie. I also find it hard to believe that Lake Superior would not be well travelled since the terminus of the whole St. Lawrence Seaway was Duluth Wisconsin, which was an iron ore shipping port. Perhaps the northern end isn't so well travelled but the southern end certainly is. The area of the Sault Ste. Marie locks (why would they build a lock in an area not well travelled????) is considered a graveyard for ships in Lake Superior. Get your facts straight!

[@rdgodette42]

Also Gordon Lightfoot had other hits such as “Rainy Day People”, “If You Could Read My Mind”, “Sundown”, “Carefree Highway”, etc.

[@balaam_7087]

It eased into the water like an old man into a bath.

[@nosuchthing8]

Dude, just listen to the lyrics

[@gonzo5785]

it was made 729 feet one foot shorter then the soo locks

[@phopainter]

Hey guys. Started listening while working from home during the pandemic, and have now been through the full catalogue. Thanks for the great work! I know you don't dig the GT original, but here's a version you may be able to get behind. Thanks and again, and I hope you enjoy the Rheostatics. Let me know! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJyYd5p8mdx0adE

[@jakeeleebattos9942]

The seas on the great lakes are worse the that of any ocean .on the ocean the waves are spread apart a d rolling ..in the lakes the waves are just as high but choppier ..and u get hit in all directions..not like u can turn the bow into it .they come from all directions..

[@bobdecker2044]

Your ignorance of all things Lightfoot is embarrassing. He is 'stuff you should know' but apparently didn't make any effort to find out. You confusing Sundown with "Someday behdeadea da da ..." really? That would be like me sayin "didn't Springsteen sing "Born in America?". I'm hitting Unsbscribe on behalf of all Canadians.